The Platte County Citizen

Thanks to the first 2-0 start since 2005, Park Hill South goes into its biggest rivalry game with a better record than Park Hill this weekend.

The Panthers’ 27-8 victory over Grandview Saturday, Aug. 27 at Park Hill District Stadium — a game postponed a day due to inclement weather in the Kansas City area on Friday night — adds intrigue to the annual intra-district showdown. The teams play at their shared stadium at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2 in a nonconference matchup with Park Hill moving up to the Suburban Conference’s Gold Division this season.

Park Hill South, which received votes in this week’s Missouri media Class 5 poll, last beat the Trojans in 2013, sweeping a pair of meetings.

Against Grandview, Park Hill South used a high-scoring second quarter and big days from running back Caeden Bowen and wide receiver Jake Springer to remain undefeated. The Panthers scored three times in the 10 minutes, 35 seconds before halftime and overcame a costly fumble to take a 12-point lead into the break.

Bowen opened the scoring with a 6-yard touchdown run, and Park Hill South executed and recovered an onside kick to take possession right back. He scored again from 10 yards out to put the Panthers up 14-0 on his way to 180 yards rushing.

A muffed punt led to Grandview’s only score.

After recovering at Park Hill South’s 1-yard line, the Bulldogs scored on the next play. However, the Panthers drove back, and quarterback Zach Suchanick connected with Springer, a senior headed to Division I after the season, with a 10-yard score.

Suchanick threw for 207 yards to go with 49 yards and a score on the ground with Springer recording team-highs of seven receptions and 121 yards. Sam Beuerlein added six catches for 58 yards.

Grandview finished with 206 yards of offense and converted just 1 of 8 third-down tries. Park Hill South linebacker Everett Horton led the defense with eight tackles (one for loss) and a fumble recovery, while Dillon Thomas added an interception.

Each team turned it over four times.

Lee’s Summit 20, Park Hill 13

The Trojans dropped out of the top 10 but continued to receive votes in the most recent Missouri media Class 6 poll following a frustrating loss Friday, Aug. 26 in Lee’s Summit, Mo.

An interception set up a touchdown for Park Hill on its opening possession, but the Trojans didn’t find the end zone again. Lee’s Summit led 20-13 late and recovered an onside kick attempt following Parker Sampson’s second field goal.

Park Hill managed to force a punt to earn one final chance to tie the score. Following a completed pass, the officials ruled Lee’s Summit fans ran onto the field before time expired, and the teams were forced to play one untimed down.

Lee’s Summit sacked Park Hill quarterback Billy Maples on the play.

Park Hill’s day started with an interception for Zach Suppes to put the Trojans at Lee’s Summit’s 27. Maples capped the short drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Christian Lewis for a 7-0 lead, and the Trojans added a field goal and never trailed in the first half, going into the break up 10-6.

Lee’s Summit scored two touchdowns in the second half, going ahead for good on the opening drive of the third quarter. An errant snap on a punt set up the final score with the Tigers recovering at Park Hill’s 2 and scoring on the next play.

Maples finished with 211 yards on 19 of 28 passing with no interceptions.

The run game never got going for Park Hill, still playing without junior expected starter Dorian Clayton (broken jaw). Seven Wilson, a senior linebacker, continued to receive carries and ran for 34 of the Trojans’ 93 yards.

Quinton Harris grabbed four passes for a team-high 109 yards, while Ronnie Bell caught a team-high six passes.

Park Hill outgained the Tigers overall with senior defensive end Chester Graves recording 18 tackles (three for loss), while Wilson added 15 stops. Dalon Davis, a sophomore, recovered a fumble for the second of Lee’s Summit’s two turnovers.